Schillo let off the legal hook

Assault charges against Everton star Steven Pienaar were withdrawn in his absence this week.

SHAMEFUL: Steven Pienaar appeared in Randburg Magistrate's Court for assault. Picture by Sunday Times

Pienaar (30) was in London when Randburg Court magistrate Salome le Roux withdrew charges brought against him in June by Thabang Mnisi (22), the son of deputy minister of public service and administration Ayanda Dlodlo.

He had alleged that Pienaar assaulted him during at nightclub Icon in Sandton.

He claimed Pienaar, who was with former Bafana Bafana teammates Katlego Mphela and Siboniso Gaxa, and a group of his childhood friends, kicked and punched him several times until he fell to the ground.

Mnisi alleged that while Pienaar assaulted him his friends restrained him.

Mnisi has been absent from court since its inception and failed to attend two scheduled identity parades at Sandton police station. He attended one held on November 9 but failed to positively identity Pienaar's friends.

Prosecutor Mbali Ngcobo asked the court to withdraw the charges against Pienaar.

Outside court, Pienaar's advocate Mannie Witz joked: "We have now gotten Pienaar off the hook. The next thing is to convince him to get back and play for the national team."